Water-tube boiler.



Patented Mar. I2, I901;

J. E. TH ORNYCROFT. WATERVTUBE BOILER. {Apphcahon filod Nov 27 1899 8 Sheets-Sheet I,

(No Model.)

No. 669,562. Patented Mar. l2, lam. J. E. THURNYCROFT.

WATER TUBE BOILER.

(Application filed Nov. 27, 1899.)

(No Model.) 8 Sheets-Shunt 2.

ms Mann's FETEHS 0.. PNGTO-UTNO" wnsnmavzm, a. c.

No. 669,562. Patented Mar. l2,- l9l0l.

J. E. rnonuvcnorr. WATER TUBE BOILER.

(Application filed Nov. 27, 1899.

(No llodai.) 8 Sheats-Shaat 3.

TNE m'mms PETERS co. r-Mo'roumm wnsumron, D n.

J. E. THORNYCBOFT. WA-TEB TUBE BfllLER.

(Application filed Nov. 27, 1.899.)

(No llodal.)

Patented Mar. I2, I90! 8 Sheets-Shoot 4,.

No. 669,562. Patented Mar. |2, |90I. J. amonuvcnon.

WAT-ER TUBE BOILER.

' (Application filed Nov. 27, 1889. y d -L 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 m: Norms PETERS co. mmmuma, wnmucmw, o c

N0. 669,562. Patented Mar. I2, I91". J. E. THDRNYCROFT.

WATER TUBE BOILER.

(Application. 6166. Nov. 27, 1899.) (No Model.) 8 Sheeta-8haet 7.

'No.'669,562. Patented Mar. l2, IBM. J. E. THORNYCBOFT.

WATER TUBE BMLER.

(Application filed Nov. 27, 1899.)

(No Ilodeh) il-Shoats-Shafl 8,

KIA-M Qua? Ntrnn STATES JOHN EDWARD THORNYGROFT, OF CHISIVICK, ENGLAND.

WATER-TUBE BOILER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 669,562, dated March 12, 190i.

Application filed November 2'7, 1899. Serial No. 738,316. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN EDWARD THORNY- CROFT, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, residing at Ohiswick, in the county of Middlesex, England, have invented Improvements in Water Tube Boilers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to water-tube boilers of the kind wherein water is caused to pass through a number of pairs of watertubes that are arranged to extend from front 1 to back of the boiler over a fire grate or grates,

in the front wall of the water-box.

and the two tubes of each pair are inclined toward one another, as seen from either side of the boiler, and also to a horizontal plane, and have their converging ends connected together-as, for example, through a junctionhox-and their diverging ends connected at different levels to water supply and delivery chambers in such manner that separate streams of water will flow simultaneously through all the pairs of tubes from the supply to the deliverychambers.

The invention has for its object to facilitate the construction, repair, and efficiency of such boilers; and it consists for these purposes in certain novel features of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts, as hereinafter fullydescribed and then pointed out in the claims hereunto annexed.

In the accompanying illustrative drawings, Figure 1 shows, partly in front elevation and partly in section on the line A A of Fig. 2, one construction of steam-boiler according to this invention. Fig. 2 is a cross-section on the line B B of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section corresponding to the line O of Fig. 1, but drawn to a larger scale, showing part of a water-box with the inlet end of one of the water-tubes connected thereto, a divisionplate in said box, a guide-tube for leading water to said tube end, and means for closing the hole in the front wall of the water-box. Fig. L is a similar view to Fig. 3, but taken on the line D D of Fig. l and showing part of the water-box with the outlet end of one of the watertubes connected thereto, the division-plate, a stopper arranged opposite said tube end and in the division-plate, and modified means for closing the corresponding hole Fig. is a part longitudinal section, and-Fig. o a part front elevation, showing another way of' closing the holes in the front wall of the waterboX. Fig. 7 is a similar view to the upper part of Fig. 2, showing a feed-water heater in the lower part of the chimney or uptake. Figs. 8 and 9 are front views showing a modilied construction. Fig. 10 is a horizontal section corresponding to the line E E of Fig. 1, but showing a further modified construction.

Referring to the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive, CL and b are the two inclined tubes constituting a pair of water-tubes, of which there are many, arranged one above the other and sidewise of one another, the converging ends of each pair of tubes being connected to a j unction-box 0 common to them.

In a steam-boiler of the kind referred to according to this invention the diverging ends 01 and e of the two tubes at and b of each pair of tubes are connected to a tube-plate f, forming the rear wall of a water-box that is connected at the top to a steam and water vessel 9. The water-box is provided with a transversely-arranged division-plate h, arranged between the rear and front walls f and i, respectively, of the box and havingits lower end extending down preferably to a line just below the upper ends of the lowest pairs of tubes 0. and b, where it is bent inward, as shown in dotted lines at It in Fig.

' 2, toward the tube-plate f, so as to divide the water-box into two compartments m and 41, one of whichviz., m-forms a downtakechamber common to the lower inlet ends cl of the several pairs of tubes, and the other viz., n-forms an uptake-chamber common to the upper-outlet ends eof the several pairs of tubes. The division-plate h is formed with holes 0, arranged opposite to but usually larger than the holes in that portion of the tube-plate f opposite which it extends. The outer wall 0} of the water-box is also formed with holes 19, that may correspond in number and position to but are usually larger than those in the tube-plate f, orfewer holes of larger size may be used, if desired, each adapted for gaining access to several tubes. The holes 19 in the front plate are normally closed by suitable stoppers. Where the holes are pitched near together, as at the central portion of the front wall when there are as many holes in such wall as in the tube-plate f, each hole may be closed by a cover-plate '2", (see Figs. 3 and 4,) held against the outer side of the said wall by suitable means, such as a bolt 8 and cross-bar t, Fig. 4 or it may be a T-headed bolts, Fig. 3, the cross-bar or the head of the T-headed bolt, as the case may be, bridging over the inner end of the hole and the shank of the bolt extending through the cover-plate r and being provided on its outer side with a cap-nut to. When the holes p are pitched farther apart, as at the upper and lower portions of the said front plate, they may each be of oval shape (see Figs. 5 and 6) and be closed by an oval coverplate 11, of larger area than the hole, inserted through the hole and held against the inner edge thereof by a bolt w, that passes through the said cover-plate v, and an external crossbar 00, bridging over the outer end of the hole, and is provided with a nut z. The bolt w may be made in one piece with the coverplate 4;.

In order to keep the two chambers m and n, formed within the water-box by the divisionplate 72,, separate, so that water cannot flow from one to the other except through the wator-tubes, but so that it can flow freely from the downtake-chamber 'm to the lower tube a, of each pair of tubes and can flow freely from the upper tube 1) of each pair of tubes into the uptake-chamber n, each hole 0 in the division-plate that is opposite the open end 01 of the lower tube a of each pair of watertubes a and b is fitted with a short removable tube 1, (hereinafter called for distinction a guide-tube,)that extends across the uptakechambern and enters the expanded open end 01 of the corresponding lower water-tube a, and each of the holes 0 in the division-plate that is opposite the upper or outlet end 6 of the upper tube b of a pair of water-tubes is closed by a removable stopper 2. Each guidetube 1, which is preferably of' conical or conoidal shape, (see Fig. 3,) may also extend across the downtake-chamber m and rest at its outer end in the corresponding hole 19 in the front wall 2' of the water-box, large holes or openings 3 being "formed through that portion of the guide-tube 1 that crosses the down.- take-chamber m, so as to allow of water freely flowing from that chamber to the cross-tube, as indicated by the arrow X, and thence to the lower tube a of a pair of water-tubes. Each stopper 2 may, as shown in Fig. 4, conveniently be a tube having a closed inner end and formed with large oppositely-arranged holes or openings 4 through its wall, such tubular stopper being arranged to extend across the downtake-chamber m, with its closed end fitting the hole 0 in the division-plate h and its open end fitting the corresponding holep in the front wall 1' of the water-box, the two holes or openings 4 in such tubular stopper being arranged to come one over the other, so as to allow of water passing freely through them, as indicated by the vertical arrow Y.

twee

By the construction described it will be seen i that water will flow from the doWntake-chamber m simultaneously to the lower ends 01 of all the pairs of tubes at and b, and water and steam will flow from the upper ends 6 of all the pairs of tubes into the uptake-chamber n, and thence to the steam and water vessel g, wherein the steam will be separated from the water, which will return to the downtakechamber m and again flow through the pairs of tubes a and b.

The front and rear sides 2 andf of the water-box are connected together by numerous stays 5, of which one only is shown in Fig. 3. These stays extend through holes in the division-plate h and may advantageously be made hollow, as shown, so as to allow of jets of steam being blown at intervals into the combustion chamber or space 6, traversed by the watertubes at and b, for the purpose of cleaning the exteriors of such tubes. The hollow-stays may also serve to admit of the entry of air from outside of the boiler to the said combustion chamber or space and also to allow of the escape of water from the box in the event of fracture of a stay, the issuing water serving to indicate such fracture.

The converging ends of each pair of watertubes at and b are, as hereinbefore stated, connected together by a junctionbox c, the two tubes extending away therefrom in such directions that they diverge from one another vertically, one being inclined downward and the otherupward and with theiraxes substantially contained in separate vertical planes. To admit of the tubes being easily fixed in the junction-boxes, each junction-box is or may be formed at the rear side with holes normally closed by stoppers 7.

Boilers of this class have been heretofore constructed, so far as known to me, from elements in which the tubes of each pair have been so arranged with relation to each other and their connecting junction-box as to leave acomparatively wide space between the tubes. When elements of this kind are superposed in a boiler, a wide and unobstructed passage is formed for the products of combustion, which is objectionable. It is desirable, therefore, to arrange the tubes close together, as seen in plan, so asto prevent the formation of the unobstructed space for the products IIO of combustion, such as heretofore referred to.

According to the present invention, therefore, the tubes of each pair are so arranged that the inner walls of the tubes of each pair are approximately contained in the same vertical plane. In other words, the tubes of the several superposed pairs are so arranged that the inner walls of all the tubes lie in substantially the same vertical plane. While this result may be effected in various ways, it is preferably effected by swinging or turning each junction-box and its connected tubes about a substantially horizontal axis. Each junction-box as thus arranged is inclined to the sides of the boiler or to the vertical planes in which the axes of the two tubes are contained. This arrangement of the junctionboxes is indicated in Fig. 2 and also in dotted lines in Fig.1, though in this figure only two junction-boxes are shown in order not to complicate the construction. By reference to Fig. 1 it will be seen that the junction-boxes are so swung or tifrned that the end with which the upper tube of the pair is connected is very much higher than the end to which the lower tube is connected and that by this arrangement the inner walls of the two tubes which are connected to the junction-box are brought nearly into the same vertical plane.

Each Water-tube a and b is or may advantageously be curved in the direction of its length, the curvature being such that the lower tube a of each pair is convex on the side toward the fire and the upper tube b of each pair is concave on the side toward the fire. By this arrangement I obviate the effects of the unequal expansion of the tubes, due to the lower tube of each pair being exposed to greater heat than the upper tubeviz., the tendency of the upper tube to be withdrawn from the tube-platefand junction-box c, to which it is connected, and the tendency of the lower tube to be forced into the tube-plate and junction-box. The bending of the tubes also enables their forward ends to be arranged at right angles to the tube-plate f, in which they are secured, and facilitates the withdrawal of the tubes through the water-box when the boiler is used in a confined situation, as in the stoke-hole of a ship.

The water-tubes a and and also, it may be, the water-box t'fare inclosed in a suitable casing 8 above a fire-grate 9, the water-box being suitably supported at the front of the boiler by the casing and the several junctionboxes 0 being arranged one above the other and above a rear wall 10 at the back of the fire-grate. The boiler-casing 8, when inclosing the water-box, is provided with a door or doors 11 to admit of ready access being gained to such water-box. Above thewater-tubes the interior of the casing communicates with the lower end of a chimney or uptake 12, which is or may be provided with a deflect ing-plate 13 or deflecting-slabs 13 to facilitate the distribution of the flame and hot gases among the water-tubes. The lower portion of the chimney or uptake may also be provided with a feed-water heater 14, as shown in Fig. 7.

The upper end of the water-box ifis in free communication with the steam and water vessel g, which may, as shown, he of cylindrical shape and be arranged transversely at the front of the. boiler and along the top of the waterbox, to the flanged upper end of which it may be directly secured. The upper end of the division-plate h in the waterbox is or may be extended upward through t@ is.)

the bottom of the steam and water vessel, as shown, in order to better separate the ascending and descending streams of water and promote good water circulation. The water-box is or may be provided with ablow-off cock 15, so that all the pairs of tubes may be simultaneously and quickly emptied of water when desired. This is a feature of considerable practical importance, as it allows of the boiler being easily and quickly emptied when desired.

Two or more water-boxes of the kind mentioned, but of less width, may in some cases be used instead of a single water-box common to all the water-tubes. This modified construction will be understood from Fig. l,if it be assumed that the dotted line 16 shows the division between two adjacent waterboxes.

In sonie cases one or more external downtake-pipes may connect the steam and water vessel 9 to the lower end of the water-box or of each such box in addition to or in lieu of the connection between the bot-tom of the steam and water vessel and the top of the downtake-chamber on within the water-box or each water-box. When two or more waterboxes are used, such a downtake-pipe may be arranged between and connected to two adjacent waterboxes or each adjacent pair of water-boxes,as shown in Fig. 8, where m is an internal downtake-pipe arranged and connected as described.

In some cases two or more longitudinallyarranged steam and water vessels 9 may be employed, as shown in Fig. 9, such vessels being connected to the closed top of the water-box.

Fig. 10 shows a further modified arrangement wherein the water-box if instead of be ing divided into two wide transversely-arranged compartments or chambers by a single transversely-arranged division-plate, as in the arrangement shown in Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive, is divided by vertical division-plates 18 or channels 19, extending from front to back of the box, into a number of alternatelyarranged vertical downtake and uptake chambers m and h, respectively, each downtakechamber 711 being located in front of and common to the lower ends of the lower tubes or of superimposed pairs of tubes, and each uptake-chambern being located in front of and com mon to the upper ends of the upper tubes 1) of superimposed pairs of tubes. The downtake-chambers m may be connected to a common outlet provided with a blow-off valve, or each downtake-chamber may have a separate blow-off valve. In this arrangement of boiler the guide-tubes and stoppers employed in the arrangement first herein described are dispensed with.

It will be evident that other changes could be made in the details of construction of my steam-boiler without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, so long as the relative arrangement of parts shown in the drawings or the mode of operation described in the specification is preserved.

What I claim is 1. A steam-generator comprising a plurality of superposed. pairs of tubes, the tubes of each pair being inclined toward each other and being so arranged that their inner walls are approximately contained in the same vertical plane, a junction-box connecting the converging ends of the tubes, uptake and downtake chambers to which the ends of the tubes are connected, and a steam and water vessel in connection with said chambers, substantially as described.

2. A steam-generator comprising a plurality of superposed pairs of tubes, the tubes of each pair being inclined toward each other, a junction-box connecting the converging ends of each pair of tubes, the tubes and the junction-box being turned so as to bring the inner walls of the tubes of each pair approxiinately into the same vertical plane, uptake and downtake chambers to which the ends of the tubes are connected, and a steam and water vessel in connection with said chambers, substantially as described.

, 3. A steam-generator comprising a plurality of superposed pairs of water-tubes, the tubes of each pair beinginclined toward each other, ajunction-box connecting the diverging ends of each pairof tubes, each junctionbox and the connected tubes being swung or turned so that the end of the junction-box to which the upper tube is connected is arranged on ahigher level than the end of the junctionbox to which the lower tube is connected, uptake and downtake chambers to which the ends of the tubes are connected, and a steam and water vessel in connection with said chambers, substantially as described.

' 4. A steam-generator comprising a plurality of pairsof inclined water-tubes, the tubes of each pair being inclined toward each other, a junction-box connecting the converging ends of each pair of tubes, the junctionboxes and their connected tubes being turned so that the tubes of each pair have their inner walls in approximately the same vertical plane, a water-box closed at the bottom and to one side of which the diverging ends of the pairs of tubes are connected at different levels, said water-box being divided internally into downtake and uptake chambers in connection with the lower and upper ends respectively of the pairs of tubes, and an upper steam and water vessel in connection with the upper end of said water-box, substantially as described.

5. A steam-generator comprising a plurality of pairs of inclined water-tubes, the tubes of each pair being inclined toward each other, a junction -box connecting the converging ends of each pair of tubes, the junctionboxes and their connected tubes being turned so that the tubes of each pair have their inner walls in approximately the same vertical plane, a water-box closed at the bottom and to one side of which the diverging ends of the pairs of tubes are connected at different levels, a division-plate located in said waterbox so as to divide the same intoan uptakechamber and a downtake chamber and formed with holes arranged opposite those in the rear wall of said water-box in which the tube ends are secured, water-guiding devices adapted to place the lower end of the lower tube of pairs of water-tubes in connection with the downtake-chamber, means for closing the holes in said division-plate that are opposite the upper end of the upper tube of pairs of water-tubes, and one or more upper steam and water vessels in connection with the downtake and uptake chambers, substantially as described.

6. A steam-generator comprising a plurality of pairs of inclined water-tubes, the two tubes of each pair being inclined toward one another and having their converging ends 0011- v nected together, a water-box closed at the bottom and to one side of which the diverging ends of the pairs of tubes are connected at different levels, a division-plate located in said water-box so as to divide the same into an uptake-chamber and a downtake-chamber and formed with holes arranged opposite those in the rear wall of said water-box in which the tube ends are secured, removable guide tubes extending across the uptakechamber and connecting the holes in the division-plate opposite the inlet ends of pair of water-tubes with such inlet ends, removable stoppers arranged to close the holes in said division-plate that are opposite the outlet ends of the upper tubes of pairs of tubes, and one or more upper steam and water vessels in connection with the said downtake and uptake chambers, substantially as described.

7. A steam-boiler comprising a plurality of superposed pairs of water-tubes, the tubes of each pair being inclined to each other and connected together at their converging ends and being arranged so that their inner walls are approximately in the same vertical plane, downtake and uptake chambers or channels closed at the bottom and in connection with the diverging inlet and outlet ends'respectively of said pairs of tubes, and one or more steam and water vessels connected to the said downtake and uptake chambers or channels, substantially as described.

8. A steam-boiler comprising a plurality of pairs of water-tubes, one of the tubes of each pair being inclined downward and the other upward, with the axis of each tube in a separate vertical plane, a j unction-box connected to the converging ends of each pair of said tubes and arranged in a position inclined to the planes containing the axes of said tubes, one or more water-boxes closed at the bottom and adapted to serve as downtake and uptake chambers or channels and to which the diverging ends of each pair of tubes are fixed at different levels with the inlet ends of said tubes in connection with the downtakes and the outlet ends of said tubes in connection with the uptakes, and one or more steam and water vessels in connection with the said downtake and uptake chambers or channels, substantially as described.

9. In a steam-boiler, the combination with a steam and water vessel and water downtake and uptake devices connected thereto, of a plurality of pairs of water-tubes the tubes of each pair being inclined to each other, and connected together at their converging ends and to said downtake and uptake devices at their diverging ends, and each curved in the direction of its length, the side of each lower tube of a pair being convex on the side next the fire and each upper tube of a pair being concave on the side next the fire, substantially as described.

10. In a steam-boiler, a plurality of pairs of Water-tubes arranged one above the other with the tubes of each pair inclined to each other and curved in the direction of their length, a junction-box connecting the converging ends of each pair of tubes, one or more water-boxes to which the diverging 'ends of said tubes are fixed, and a steam and water vessel in connection with said water box or boxes, substantially as described.

11. A steam-boiler comprising a plurality of pairs of water-tubes, the tubes of each pair being inclined to each other and curved in the direction of their length, a junction-box connecting the converging ends of each pair of tubes, a water-box closed at the bottom and having its rear wall connected at right angles to the diverging ends of said pairs of tubes and its front wall formed with normally-closed holes through which said curved tubes can be withdrawn, and a steam and water vessel connected to the said water-box, substantially as described.

12. A steam-boiler comprising a plurality of pairs of water-tubes, the tubes of each pair being inclined to each other, junction-boxes connecting the converging ends of said pairs of tubes, a water-box to the rear side of which the diverging ends of said water-tubes are connected at different levels and the front side of which is provided with normally-closed holes, said Water-box being closed at the bottom and formed with downtake and uptake chambers in connection with the inlet and outlet ends respectively of said pairs of tubes, a steam and water vessel connected to the top of said water-box, a furnace -chamber arranged below said water-tubes, a casing surrounding said water-tubes, and a chimney or uptake located above said tubes, substantially as described.

13. A steam-boiler comprising a plurality of pairs of Water-tubes, the tubes of each pair being inclined to each other, junction-boxes connecting the converging ends of said pairs of tubes, a Water-box to the rear side of which the diverging ends of said water-tubes are connected at different levels and the front side of which is provided with normally-closed holes, said Water-box being closed at the bottom and provided with a transverse divisionplate arranged to divide the said box into a downtake-chamber and an uptake-chamber and formed with holes arranged opposite holes in the rear wall of said box, guide-tubes extending across the uptake-chamber and fitting the inlet ends of the lower tube of each pair of tubes and the corresponding hole in the division-plate, perforated tubular stoppers extending across the downtake-chamber and fitting the holes in said division-plate that are opposite the outlet end of the upper tube of each pair of tubes, a steam and water ves sel secured to the top of said water-box and in communication with the upper ends of said downtake and uptake chambers, a fur nace chamber arranged below said water tubes, a casing surrounding said Water-tubes, and a chimney or uptake located above said tubes, substantially as described.

Signed at 77 Oornhill, in the city of London, England, this 13th day of November, 1899.

JOHN EDWARD THORNYCR'DFT.

Witnesses:

EDMUND S. SNEWIN, PERCY E. MATTOCK. 

